Time factors into referendum decision

Monday

Nov 4, 2013 at 4:08 PM

Davidson County officials have a few weeks to decide if citizens will vote on a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund a new high school.

BY NASH DUNNThe Dispatch

Davidson County officials have a few weeks to decide if citizens will vote on a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund a new high school, according to state statutes and the local board of elections.State law mandates election boards publish legal notices for special elections 45 days prior to the election date. However, Davidson County Board of Elections staff prefer about 90 days notice, to provide enough time to prepare for the special vote, according to a letter to commissioners from county manager Robert Hyatt dated Oct. 31. Following that logic, that would give county commissioners until early February to make a decision on the issue, the letter said."You have to have a little bit of preparation time for the board of elections," said Assistant Davidson County Manager Zeb Hanner, adding that time is needed to program voting machines, print ballots and account for early and absentee voting.Commissioners are considering the local sales tax as a possible revenue source for a proposed high school in the northern end of the county. Davidson County Schools board members, teachers and parents say the school would alleviate overcrowding issues at North Davidson and Ledford high schools.The tax is expected to generate a little more than $2.3 million each year, which would be enough to finance the debt on a sizable loan for the estimated $45 million school.If approved during a referendum, the board would still have to vote to implement the tax. In addition, commissioners would have to select how they want to borrow the money.General obligation bonds, which have been used to finance county school projects in the past, would also require a vote of the people. However, other forms of borrowing, such as certificates of participation, do not, Hanner said.The tax, which would typically cost consumers an additional 25 cents for every $100 they spend, would apply to most products, excluding some agricultural materials, gasoline, prescription medication, groceries and motor vehicles, among other items, according to state statutes.Commissioners would have the option to repeal the local tax in the future, Hanner said.The board is mulling a referendum in the May primary next year.Commissioners Fred McClure, Larry Potts and Todd Yates have made it clear they support holding a referendum on the issue. Commissioner Billy Joe Kepley, who has stated the new school is his No. 1 priority, also said the tax is a good option to fund the school."A quarter of a cent isn't very much," Kepley said. "I can go to Lanier's Hardware, find a quarter on the way in, buy $100 worth of goods and that quarter is what would go to the school."In October, commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with the Davidson County Board of Education that will appropriate a total of $5 million for design and grading work on the school project.In addition, while it appears a majority of commissioners support calling for the referendum, the probability of whether or not citizens will support the matter remains unclear.Since the General Assembly approved the local-option sales tax in 2007, the issue has gone to a referendum 90 times. Of those 90, 25 were approved and 65 failed, according to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.Kepley said he doesn't buy the argument that citizens in the southern end of the county won't support the initiative."That makes me a little bit ill, and I know my people better than that," Kepley said. "You have to prove the deed to the Davidson County people."Commissioners plan to take up the issue again at their informational meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday.Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash

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